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Population in China compared to Iran: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,406,585,000 in 2025 vs 92,417,681 people in Iran in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,403,335,670 people compared to 93,580,141 in Iran.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 15 times bigger than Iran's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Iran is the 17th.
  • The countries together account for 18% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 1.13% for Iran.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.23% per year vs +1.15% in Iran.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (7.04% growth), while Iran has grown from 73.4M to 93.6M (27.5% growth).

China vs Iran: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Iran
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Iran
2100 633,662,382 80,660,972
2099 644,307,192 81,193,582
2098 655,044,881 81,717,474
2097 665,876,462 82,241,892
2096 676,803,171 82,764,411
2095 687,828,883 83,283,942
2094 698,966,872 83,799,806
2093 710,235,681 84,316,389
2092 721,640,723 84,833,108
2091 733,187,178 85,354,240
2090 744,903,105 85,878,473
2089 756,812,472 86,409,859
2088 768,893,004 86,947,263
2087 781,128,909 87,492,427
2086 793,508,970 88,047,949
2085 806,043,039 88,610,339
2084 818,709,832 89,181,346
2083 831,420,518 89,758,453
2082 844,177,036 90,343,413
2081 856,996,835 90,936,310
2080 869,821,040 91,535,218
2079 882,622,985 92,136,544
2078 895,372,147 92,740,467
2077 908,082,676 93,344,865
2076 920,776,984 93,946,187
2075 933,459,600 94,544,733
2074 946,141,456 95,135,317
2073 958,870,128 95,721,351
2072 971,639,931 96,292,835
2071 984,469,009 96,851,951
2070 997,391,342 97,397,073
2069 1,010,450,818 97,924,812
2068 1,023,633,867 98,432,509
2067 1,036,979,285 98,913,776
2066 1,050,453,924 99,374,357
2065 1,064,051,499 99,812,137
2064 1,077,787,979 100,223,387
2063 1,091,571,021 100,602,361
2062 1,105,429,748 100,951,282
2061 1,119,286,514 101,266,537
2060 1,133,115,260 101,545,806
2059 1,146,818,251 101,792,315
2058 1,160,340,554 101,994,395
2057 1,173,596,480 102,161,227
2056 1,186,578,041 102,291,323
2055 1,199,197,172 102,382,089
2054 1,211,403,028 102,431,558
2053 1,223,160,257 102,441,204
2052 1,234,474,716 102,413,350
2051 1,245,255,938 102,350,865
2050 1,255,501,171 102,251,999
2049 1,265,281,319 102,122,983
2048 1,274,572,888 101,957,508
2047 1,283,393,445 101,765,614
2046 1,291,830,414 101,547,098
2045 1,299,855,379 101,305,486
2044 1,307,510,531 101,038,874
2043 1,314,885,869 100,752,109
2042 1,322,032,311 100,446,296
2041 1,328,936,491 100,122,690
2040 1,335,577,799 99,784,572
2039 1,341,989,157 99,436,793
2038 1,348,134,255 99,072,548
2037 1,354,107,817 98,694,577
2036 1,359,866,705 98,302,279
2035 1,365,387,904 97,899,013
2034 1,370,679,807 97,482,352
2033 1,375,744,986 97,054,589
2032 1,380,528,766 96,608,216
2031 1,385,048,521 96,141,200
2030 1,389,269,809 95,656,003
2029 1,393,241,425 95,133,736
2028 1,396,917,178 94,561,150
2027 1,400,271,033 93,925,792
2026 1,403,335,670 93,215,072
2025 1,406,585,000 92,417,681
2024 1,408,975,000 91,567,738
2023 1,410,710,000 90,608,707
2022 1,412,175,000 89,524,246
2021 1,412,360,000 88,455,488
2020 1,411,100,000 87,723,443
2019 1,407,745,000 87,051,648
2018 1,402,760,000 86,117,998
2017 1,396,215,000 85,026,754
2016 1,387,790,000 83,812,228
2015 1,379,860,000 82,619,362
2014 1,371,860,000 81,502,045
2013 1,363,240,000 80,414,686
2012 1,354,190,000 79,370,580
2011 1,345,035,000 78,383,598
2010 1,337,705,000 77,420,842
2009 1,331,260,000 76,457,825
2008 1,324,655,000 75,514,204
2007 1,317,885,000 74,602,648
2006 1,311,020,000 73,392,747
2005 1,303,720,000 71,828,455
2004 1,296,075,000 70,256,316
2003 1,288,400,000 68,769,340
2002 1,280,400,000 68,011,317
2001 1,271,850,000 67,452,005
2000 1,262,645,000 66,418,659
1999 1,252,735,000 65,445,391
1998 1,241,935,000 64,519,859
1997 1,230,075,000 63,639,638
1996 1,217,550,000 62,881,300
1995 1,204,855,000 62,205,567
1994 1,191,835,000 61,520,598
1993 1,178,440,000 61,403,543
1992 1,164,970,000 61,184,983
1991 1,150,780,000 59,986,931
1990 1,135,185,000 58,380,092
1989 1,118,650,000 56,704,914
1988 1,101,630,000 55,072,694
1987 1,084,035,000 53,323,493
1986 1,066,790,000 51,446,045
1985 1,051,040,000 49,582,289
1984 1,036,825,000 47,793,998
1983 1,023,310,000 46,029,535
1982 1,008,630,000 44,272,141
1981 993,885,000 41,989,312
1980 981,235,000 39,842,324
1979 969,005,000 38,424,952
1978 956,165,000 37,126,535
1977 943,455,000 35,933,181
1976 930,685,000 34,837,271
1975 916,395,000 33,802,973
1974 900,350,000 32,796,463
1973 881,940,000 31,839,838
1972 862,030,000 30,921,179
1971 841,105,000 30,029,071
1970 818,315,000 29,145,100
1969 796,025,000 28,273,482
1968 774,510,000 27,437,391
1967 754,550,000 26,628,432
1966 735,400,000 25,829,270
1965 715,185,000 25,036,978
1964 698,355,000 24,262,859
1963 682,335,000 23,519,005
1962 665,770,000 22,807,907
1961 660,330,000 22,125,726
1960 667,070,000 21,470,434

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/iran | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Iran gained 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth), while Iran's population increased by 9,767,913 people (a 11.7% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Iran was ranked 17th in 2006 and still ranked 17th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,255,501,171 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Iran will increase by 9.27% to 102,251,999 people and rank change from 17th to 18th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 102M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 634M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Iran
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Iran
2100 -1.65% -0.66%
2099 -1.64% -0.64%
2098 -1.63% -0.64%
2097 -1.61% -0.63%
2096 -1.6% -0.62%
2095 -1.59% -0.62%
2094 -1.59% -0.61%
2093 -1.58% -0.61%
2092 -1.57% -0.61%
2091 -1.57% -0.61%
2090 -1.57% -0.61%
2089 -1.57% -0.62%
2088 -1.57% -0.62%
2087 -1.56% -0.63%
2086 -1.56% -0.63%
2085 -1.55% -0.64%
2084 -1.53% -0.64%
2083 -1.51% -0.65%
2082 -1.5% -0.65%
2081 -1.47% -0.65%
2080 -1.45% -0.65%
2079 -1.42% -0.65%
2078 -1.4% -0.65%
2077 -1.38% -0.64%
2076 -1.36% -0.63%
2075 -1.34% -0.62%
2074 -1.33% -0.61%
2073 -1.31% -0.59%
2072 -1.3% -0.58%
2071 -1.3% -0.56%
2070 -1.29% -0.54%
2069 -1.29% -0.52%
2068 -1.29% -0.49%
2067 -1.28% -0.46%
2066 -1.28% -0.44%
2065 -1.27% -0.41%
2064 -1.26% -0.38%
2063 -1.25% -0.35%
2062 -1.24% -0.31%
2061 -1.22% -0.28%
2060 -1.19% -0.24%
2059 -1.17% -0.2%
2058 -1.13% -0.16%
2057 -1.09% -0.13%
2056 -1.05% -0.09%
2055 -1.01% -0.05%
2054 -0.96% -0.009%
2053 -0.92% 0.03%
2052 -0.87% 0.06%
2051 -0.82% 0.1%
2050 -0.77% 0.13%
2049 -0.73% 0.16%
2048 -0.69% 0.19%
2047 -0.65% 0.22%
2046 -0.62% 0.24%
2045 -0.59% 0.26%
2044 -0.56% 0.28%
2043 -0.54% 0.3%
2042 -0.52% 0.32%
2041 -0.5% 0.34%
2040 -0.48% 0.35%
2039 -0.46% 0.37%
2038 -0.44% 0.38%
2037 -0.42% 0.4%
2036 -0.4% 0.41%
2035 -0.39% 0.43%
2034 -0.37% 0.44%
2033 -0.35% 0.46%
2032 -0.33% 0.49%
2031 -0.3% 0.51%
2030 -0.29% 0.55%
2029 -0.26% 0.61%
2028 -0.24% 0.68%
2027 -0.22% 0.76%
2026 -0.23% 0.86%
2025 -0.17% 0.93%
2024 -0.12% 1.06%
2023 -0.1% 1.21%
2022 -0.01% 1.21%
2021 0.09% 0.83%
2020 0.24% 0.77%
2019 0.36% 1.08%
2018 0.47% 1.28%
2017 0.61% 1.45%
2016 0.57% 1.44%
2015 0.58% 1.37%
2014 0.63% 1.35%
2013 0.67% 1.32%
2012 0.68% 1.26%
2011 0.55% 1.24%
2010 0.48% 1.26%
2009 0.5% 1.25%
2008 0.51% 1.22%
2007 0.52% 1.65%
2006 0.56% 2.18%
2005 0.59% 2.24%
2004 0.6% 2.16%
2003 0.62% 1.11%
2002 0.67% 0.83%
2001 0.73% 1.56%
2000 0.79% 1.49%
1999 0.87% 1.43%
1998 0.96% 1.38%
1997 1.03% 1.21%
1996 1.05% 1.09%
1995 1.09% 1.11%
1994 1.14% 0.19%
1993 1.16% 0.36%
1992 1.23% 2%
1991 1.37% 2.75%
1990 1.48% 2.95%
1989 1.54% 2.96%
1988 1.62% 3.28%
1987 1.62% 3.65%
1986 1.5% 3.76%
1985 1.37% 3.74%
1984 1.32% 3.83%
1983 1.46% 3.97%
1982 1.48% 5.44%
1981 1.29% 5.39%
1980 1.26% 3.69%
1979 1.34% 3.5%
1978 1.35% 3.32%
1977 1.37% 3.15%
1976 1.56% 3.06%
1975 1.78% 3.07%
1974 2.09% 3%
1973 2.31% 2.97%
1972 2.49% 2.97%
1971 2.78% 3.03%
1970 2.8% 3.08%
1969 2.78% 3.05%
1968 2.65% 3.04%
1967 2.6% 3.09%
1966 2.83% 3.16%
1965 2.41% 3.19%
1964 2.35% 3.16%
1963 2.49% 3.12%
1962 0.82% 3.08%
1961 -1.01% 3.05%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/iran | CC BY

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.17%, while Iran's population grew by 0.93%.

Live population counters

China Iran
Current population
1403335670
93580141
Population rank 2/197 17/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 1.13%
One net population change
13.2 seconds
37.2 seconds
One birth every
3.31 seconds
27.4 seconds
One death every
2.88 seconds
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline -6,548 +2,329
Annual growth/decline -2,390,000 +849,943
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +0.93%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 103/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
4.51 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +116,786
Net migration rank 189/196 14/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 3,840,654
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 17/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 4.2%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 103/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Iran
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Iran
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 116,786
2024 -1,394,886 -318,992 715,785 190,156
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 750,150 262,044
2022 -847,305 -293,846 753,525 403,190
2021 480,203 -379,749 645,725 334,967
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 663,978 -180,680
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 893,063 -32,794
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 1,035,052 -27,946
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 1,140,549 34,849
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 1,186,949 66,630
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 1,178,317 -46,239
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 1,158,552 -56,042
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 1,119,533 -47,322
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 1,073,804 -57,823
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 1,023,925 -65,924
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 980,380 -12,849
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 958,322 211
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 940,983 -12,184
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 919,254 -24,950
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 884,529 640,932
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 837,305 765,873
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 801,203 739,996
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 732,600 700,222
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 752,205 -668,962
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 743,658 291,692
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 731,203 300,133
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 723,237 191,988
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 717,655 218,171
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 726,574 98,009
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 784,508 -92,435
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 879,648 -220,258
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 1,008,076 -297,487
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 1,219,658 -1,696,091
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 1,365,466 -451,945
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 1,495,594 -13,059
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 1,530,434 200,711
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 1,609,739 9,460
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 1,614,512 30,688
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 1,639,644 213,524
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 1,659,289 242,411
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 1,661,750 163,999
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 1,653,051 97,748
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 1,573,612 204,544
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 1,514,240 222,390
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 1,376,830 1,452,169
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 1,361,293 103,674
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 1,294,306 75,451
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 1,156,974 70,088
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 1,091,542 68,093
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 1,013,347 18,825
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 929,481 106,921
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 873,369 103,252
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 831,880 104,779
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 804,043 96,614
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 805,830 77,717
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 794,612 89,757
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 780,660 78,196
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 743,992 69,342
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 727,276 77,313
1966 19,282,187 4,165 695,040 98,709
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 663,029 127,808
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 635,589 121,817
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 620,126 110,190
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 595,538 96,332
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 594,674 77,811
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 584,060 54,041

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/iran | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 90.3% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 31,814,462 people) and 9.66% is from migration (a loss of 3,400,807 people). In Iran 89.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,963,093 people) and 10.1% is from migration (a gain of 1,004,177 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 3,840,654 people or 4.2% in Iran.

Biggest cities by population

China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M
Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/iran | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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